Feeling Stuck

So I've lost 32 pounds since I started this whole journey in mid-August. About three weeks ago I started the 30-Day Shred because I decided it was time to start building some muscle, as well. In the first two days I lost two pounds, but then it stopped. Now I'm stuck in the same 2 pound range, gaining and losing the same 2 pounds without dropping below my lowest weight. I'm trying to keep in mind that I'm building muscle (and probably losing inches, too, but since I didn't measure myself like I should have, I'm just guessing), but I feel like I should be losing at least a little weight. This is the most static I've been in the last four months and it has me feeling a little desperate. Is all this normal? Should I be doing something I'm not? Please feel free to look at my diary, but also please don't judge me too much based on the last couple of days. I ate some things over the holidays that I really don't normally do.

Replies

  • kristen6022
    kristen6022 Posts: 1,923 Member
    When you start working out (from not doing anything) your body tends to retain water. Give it a couple weeks for your body to get used to the changes (and they are good changes, so don't stop 30DS just because you aren't seeing results on the scale). Be patient and don't always assume the scale is the best way to determine success. Take pics and get out that measuring tape...
  • Stenobun
    Stenobun Posts: 166 Member
    I guess I should have clarified. I started exercising in August, but it was mostly cardio, lots of walking and stationary biking. The 30-Day Shred is something I started so I could get stronger, as well. So I might be retaining water from that, I guess, but I was already exercising. Does anyone think this is just the change in type of exercise that's causing the weight loss to stop? I know that it's important to gain muscle and the scale isn't everything, but I still have so much fat to lose and I don't want that to stop.
  • kristen6022
    kristen6022 Posts: 1,923 Member
    I guess I should have clarified. I started exercising in August, but it was mostly cardio, lots of walking and stationary biking. The 30-Day Shred is something I started so I could get stronger, as well. So I might be retaining water from that, I guess, but I was already exercising. Does anyone think this is just the change in type of exercise that's causing the weight loss to stop? I know that it's important to gain muscle and the scale isn't everything, but I still have so much fat to lose and I don't want that to stop.

    You won't gain muscle at a calorie deficient, 30DS will basically just help you lose the fat covering the muscle. Muscle gain is very minimal. I still think it's water retention, your body isn't used to THESE movements. You may need to up your calories if you haven't had a loss in 2 weeks - the extra exercise might be putting you at too much of a deficient. Or you are over estimating how many calories you burn and you are actually eating to much. I can't really predict that...

    Just give it time, be patient and keep doing what you are doing...in 2 weeks if you haven't seen a loss or a difference in inches, tweak your food numbers a bit. Have you estimated your TDEE and your BMR? Do you wear at HRM when you work out?